(1/2136) Condom use and HIV risk behaviors among U.S. adults: data from a national survey.

CONTEXT: How much condom use among U.S. adults varies by type of partner or by risk behavior is unclear. Knowledge of such differentials would aid in evaluating the progress being made toward goals for levels of condom use as part of the Healthy People 2000 initiative. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 1996 National Household Survey of Drug Abuse, an annual household-based probability sample of the noninstitutionalized population aged 12 and older that measures the use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The personal behaviors module included 25 questions covering sexual activity in the past year, frequency of condom use in the past year, circumstances of the last sexual encounter and HIV testing. RESULTS: Sixty-two percent of adults reported using a condom at last intercourse outside of an ongoing relationship, while only 19% reported using condoms when the most recent intercourse occurred within a steady relationship. Within ongoing relationships, condom use was highest among respondents who were younger, black, of lower income and from large metropolitan areas. Forty percent of unmarried adults used a condom at last sex, compared with the health objective of 50% for the year 2000. Forty percent of injecting drug users used condoms at last intercourse, compared with the 60% condom use objective for high-risk individuals. Significantly, persons at increased risk for HIV because of their sexual behavior or drug use were not more likely to use condoms than were persons not at increased risk; only 22% used condoms during last intercourse within an ongoing relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial progress has been made toward national goals for increasing condom use. The rates of condom use by individuals at high risk of HIV need to be increased, however, particularly condom use with a steady partner. (+info)

(2/2136) Changing epidemiology of hepatitis A in the 1990s in Sydney, Australia.

Surveillance of hepatitis A in residents of Eastern Sydney Health Area identified substantial epidemics in homosexual males in 1991-2 with a peak rate of 520 per 100,000 recorded in males aged 25-29 years, and again in 1995-6, with a peak rate of 405 per 100,000 per year in males aged 30-34 years. During 1994-5 an epidemic was detected among disadvantaged youth associated with injecting drug use; peak rates of 200 per 100,000 per year were reported in males aged 25-29 years and of 64 per 100,000 per year among females aged 20-24 years. The epidemiology of hepatitis A in these inner suburbs of Sydney is characterized by very few childhood cases and recurrent epidemics among homosexual men. Identified risk groups need to be targeted with appropriate messages regarding the importance of hygiene and vaccination in preventing hepatitis A. However, poor access to health services among disadvantaged youth and a constant influx of young homosexual males into these inner suburbs present major challenges to hepatitis A control. (+info)

(3/2136) No evidence for an effect of the CCR5 delta32/+ and CCR2b 64I/+ mutations on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 disease progression among HIV-1-infected injecting drug users.

The relationship between CCR5 and CCR2b genotypes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 disease progression was studied among the 108 seroconverters of the Amsterdam cohort of injecting drug users (IDUs). In contrast to earlier studies among homosexual men, no effect on disease progression of the CCR5 Delta32/+ and the CCR2b 64I/+ genotypes was found, when progression to AIDS, death, or a CD4 cell count <200/microL was compared by a Cox proportional hazards model. Furthermore, CD4 cell decline (by a regression model for repeated measurements) and virus load in the first 3 years after seroconversion did not differ between the CCR5 and CCR2b wild type and heterozygous genotypes. A nested matched case-control study also revealed no significant effect of the CCR5 and CCR2b mutations. Immunologic differences between IDUs and homosexual men may account for the observed lack of effect. Alternatively, difference in transmission route or characteristics of the HIV-1 variants that circulate in IDUs could also explain this phenomenon. (+info)

(4/2136) HIV-1 incidence among opiate users in northern Thailand.

The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection among opiate users was determined in a retrospective cohort of 436 patients with multiple admissions to the only inpatient drug treatment program in northern Thailand between October 1993 and September 1995. During 323.4 person-years of follow-up, 60 patients presenting for detoxification acquired HIV-1 infection, for a crude incidence rate of 18.6 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 14.4-23.9). All seroconverters were male. HIV-1 incidence varied by the current route of drug administration: 31.3 per 100 person-years for injectors and 2.8 per 100 person-years for noninjectors (smoking and ingestion). Significant differences were found by ethnicity: HIV-1 incidence was 29.3 per 100 person-years for Thai lowlanders and 8.5 per 100 person-years for hill tribes. Multivariate relative risk estimates showed that injecting opiates (vs. use by other routes), being unmarried, being under age 40 years, being a Thai lowlander, having a primary and secondary education, and being employed in the business sector were each independently associated with human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion. This HIV-1 incidence rate is double that reported for Bangkok and suggests that prevention and control programs for drug users need to be expanded throughout Thailand. Improved availability of more-effective treatment regimens and increased access to sterile injection equipment are needed to confront the HIV-1 epidemic among opiate users in northern Thailand. (+info)

(5/2136) Acute hepatitis B infection in England and Wales: 1985-96.

Confirmed acute hepatitis B infections are reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre by laboratories in England and Wales. These reports have been used to monitor trends in the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection over time, and between exposure categories and age groups. Between 1985 and 1996 a total of 9252 cases of acute HBV infection were reported; the number of reports fell from 1761 in 1985 to 581 in 1996. Most infections were reported in adults aged 15-44 years [n = 7365 (80%)], and infections were more commonly reported in males [n = 6490 (70%)] than females [n = 2658 (29%)]. The probable means of acquisition was known for just over half of all adult cases [4827/8956 (54%)]. Injecting drug use was the most common exposure [n = 1901 (21%)], followed by sex between men and women [n = 1140 (13%)] and sex between men [n = 1025 (11%)]. The number of infections in injecting drug users fell in the late 1980s, but increased again from 1991 onwards. In children aged under 15 years, infections acquired by mother to baby transmission accounted for 35/170 (21%) of the total. Surveillance indicates that the incidence of acute hepatitis B infection fell in the late 1980s, probably reflecting changed behaviour in injecting drug users. An increase in the number of infections in injecting drug users since 1993 may indicate ongoing transmission that has not been contained by the introduction of needle exchange schemes or by selective vaccination. (+info)

(6/2136) Harm reduction in Bern: from outreach to heroin maintenance.

In Switzerland, harm-reduction programs have the support of the national government and many localities, in congruence with much of the rest of Europe and in contrast with the United States, and take place in public settings. The threat of AIDS is recognized as the greater harm. This paper describes the overall national program and highlights the experience from one city; the program is noteworthy because it is aimed at gathering comparative data from controlled trials. (+info)

(7/2136) Research on needle exchange: redefining the agenda.

Researchers studying needle-exchange programs in the United States pursue a two-fold agenda that requires answers to these questions: (1) Do such programs successfully reduce HIV seroprevalence among injecting drug users? (2) Do they promote drug use? Several federal laws and regulations require convincing data on each question before the release of federal funds for needle exchange. Fears that needle exchange promotes drug use are at the core of federal concerns, and these fears are shared by community leaders, scientists, and public health professionals. Nonetheless, the manner in which the "drug use" question has been framed and addressed in scientific research has been given insufficient attention. This article aims to stimulate debate about current research, and restore a focus on HIV prevention, by addressing several methodological, logical, and ethical weaknesses that characterize the scientific inquiry into whether needle exchange promotes drug use. (+info)

BACKGROUND: Completion of treatment of active cases of tuberculosis (TB) is the most important priority of TB control programs. This study was carried out to assess treatment completion for active cases of pulmonary TB in Toronto. METHODS: Consecutive cases of culture-proven pulmonary TB were obtained from the microbiology laboratories of 5 university-affiliated tertiary care centres in Toronto in 1992/93. A standard data-collection tool was used to abstract information from inpatient and outpatient charts. For patients who were transferred to other treatment centres or lost to follow-up, the local health unit was contacted for information about treatment completion. If incomplete information was obtained from these sources, data from the provincial Reportable Disease Information System were also reviewed. The main outcome analysed was treatment outcome, with cases classified as completed (record of treatment completion noted), transferred (patient transferred to another centre but no treatment results available), defaulted (record of defaulting in patient chart but no record of treatment completion elsewhere, or patient still receiving treatment more than 15 months after diagnosis) or dead (patient died before treatment completion). RESULTS: Of the 145 patients 84 (58%) completed treatment, 25 (17%) died, 22 (15%) defaulted and 14 (10%) were transferred. The corresponding values for the 22 patients with HIV coinfection were 6 (27%), 5 (23%), 8 (36%) and 3 (14%). Independent predictors of failure to complete treatment were injection drug use (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 5.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5 to 22.0), HIV infection (adjusted OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.4 to 14.7) and adverse drug reaction (adjusted OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 7.9). Independent predictors of death included age more than 50 years (adjusted OR 16.7, 95% CI 2.6 to 105.1), HIV infection (adjusted OR 16.1, 95% CI 3.9 to 66.4), immunosuppressive therapy (adjusted OR 8.0, 95% CI 1.9 to 34.4) and infection with a multidrug-resistant organism (adjusted OR 30.7, 95% CI 1.5 to 623.0). INTERPRETATION: Treatment completion rates in tertiary care hospitals in Toronto in 1992/93 were below the rate recommended by the World Health Organization. Careful surveillance of treatment completion is necessary for the management of TB in metropolitan centres in Canada. (+info)

narcotics

Heroin remains one of the most frequently abused narcotics in the United States. (medscape.com)

injection

Onset of action occurs within 1-2 minutes with intravenous injection and within 15-30 minutes with intramuscular injection. (medscape.com)

After an intravenous injection of heroin, users report feeling a surge of euphoria ( rush ) accompanied by dry mouth, a warm flushing of the skin, heaviness of the extremities, and clouded mental functioning. (docplayer.net)

regularly

If the mother is regularly abusing the drug, the infant may be born physically dependent on heroin and could suffer from serious medical complications requiring hospitalization. (docplayer.net)

prostaglandins

Consumption of fish oil alters the body's production of certain substances in the class of chemicals called prostaglandins. (medicalcityhospital.com)

Heroin

Heroin is occasionally sold as a black, tarry substance, especially when crude processing methods are used to manufacture it. (medscape.com)

How Is Heroin Abused? (docplayer.net)

1 Heroin Heroin is an opiate drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. (docplayer.net)

Heroin usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black sticky substance, known as black tar heroin. (docplayer.net)

Heroin abuse during pregnancy, together with related factors like poor nutrition and inadequate prenatal care, has been associated with adverse consequences including low birthweight, an important risk factor for later developmental delay. (docplayer.net)

How Do I Know If My loved One Needs Rehab For Heroin Abuse? (heroinrehabs.org)

It has been found that some people, after years of heroin abuse , have managed to hide their addiction from the people closest to them. (heroinrehabs.org)

Drug and alcohol abuse hurts not only those using heroin, but family members and loved ones as well and the only way to restore these relationships and handle the substance abuse problem is by identifying the problem and getting the addicted person into a drug rehab. (heroinrehabs.org)

There are many physical signs of heroin abuse. (heroinrehabs.org)

Along with physical changes, many people abusing heroin will go through mental and emotional changes as well. (heroinrehabs.org)

Understanding and being able to see the signs and symptoms of heroin abuse is the first step to correctly assessing this problem and getting the addicted individual on the road to recovery through successful treatment. (heroinrehabs.org)

Heroin abuse is one of the hardest addictions to overcome - the only real, effective solution is drug and alcohol treatment. (heroinrehabs.org)

alcohol abuse

Orphey applied for disability benefits in September of 1987, alleging that he could not work because of seizures associated with his drug and alcohol abuse. (openjurist.org)

Officials are urging anyone suffering from drug or alcohol abuse to seek help immediately to avoid being infected by this disease. (heroinrehabs.org)

history

Logistic regression results show that substance abuse history (OR = 3.14), male gender (OR = 2.05), and a history of serious mental disorder (OR = 1.62) were significantly related to the risk for AIDS diagnosis among shelter users. (bmj.com)

Addiction-prone individuals, such as those with a history of alcohol or substance abuse, should be under careful surveillance or medical supervision when treated with barbiturates. (ideku.info)

Containment Addendum - D-class subjects with a history of paedophilia or child abuse should not be used in the storage room for any purposes during manifestation periods. (scp-wiki.net)

withdrawal

Users also experience severe craving for the drug during withdrawal, which can precipitate continued abuse and/or relapse. (docplayer.net)

drug users

[1,2] Rates are considerably higher in the Italian correctional population (38%) because of the higher proportion of intravenous drug users (IVDUs). (blogspot.com)

overdose

The increasing number of drug abuse factors in for overdose cases in the country. (blogspot.com)

treatment

In this setting HCV infection treatment is controversial because of several factors such as active drug substance abuse, psychiatric illness, length of treatment, risk of re-infection, poor adherence and low success rate. (blogspot.com)

Despite the relatively high success rates reported in the U.S. and Canada correctional population, [4-9] several factors reported as potential obstacles to treatment of chronic HCV infection in the general population, such as active drug substance abuse, psychiatric illness, length of treatment, risk of re-infection, poor adherence and low success rates, may be more prevalent in this setting. (blogspot.com)

Lidocaine is a substance administered intravenous in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, is generally very well tolerated. (soberrecovery.com)

people

People who abuse methadone suffers from poorer health condition than the other group of population. (blogspot.com)

Effects

Intravenous drug effects are almost instant and systemic the entire body reacts with the drug at full power. (basenotes.net)

drugs

The record reveals that Orphey has had a substance abuse problem involving alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and intravenous drugs for most of his adult life. (openjurist.org)

medical

At 0345 and 1545 daily, janitorial staff should enter the storage facility in standard medical hazard gear to clean blood and other biological substances from the room, and also to remove the leftover food and drink. (scp-wiki.net)

health

In controlled condition, methadone is relatively safe but in other instances, it can provide a long list of health hazards as long as users abusing the drug. (blogspot.com)

Substance abuse?

What are some of the assessment tools that are used by substance abuse counselors? I am aware of the MAST test as being but one; what are some of the others?

GAD

substance abuse?

Can someone please tell me why substance abuse happens

There are many factors contributing to substance abuse. Genetic predisposition is one. If your parents were addicts, you are at higher risk.
Chemical imbalance in the brain can cause addiction. Problems with serotonin and other neurotransmitters can make a person have an addictive personality.
Peer pressure and trying to fit in with others is a contributing factor.
Ethnic background or religious beliefs in the way a person is raised.
Environment plays a role in addiction. Poverty is a common reason for some people to abuse substances.
Life experiences can cause a person to turn to substances. Someone who has had a lot of bad problems and can't cope.
Social anxiety can cause a person to abuse substances so they are more comfortable around others.
There are probably more, but above are a few. Hope this helps

Substance Abuse?

I think someone very close to me has a problem with substance abuse.
It's not just liquor... I have caught this person popping pills (Kind? I don't know... But it was not a prescription bottle in their name) and running errands more than usual.
How do you bring something like that up? I do not want to push her away....not to mention the mood swings she is having (bad... really)..... I need help.... How do I mention how I feel w/o offending her or just pushing her away?
At what point have I over stepped my boundaries?
For the person who is very optimistic... Thank you for your positive outlook on this. She is a friend I refuse to lose, and those are hard to find. Thank you again.
As for the "not so optimistic" one.... I do agree that no matter how I put it or bring it up, it's human to get defensive. No matter how much I want to help her.... she is the only one who can help "Her"..... BUT, I'm not going anywhere.... she is too good of a friend to just let go....She is smarter than this....

Bless your heart for being a caring, dear friend!!!
Ya know, I was in your friend's shoes once. When life was getting too tough for me to handle, and I was afraid that God had also abandoned me, I developed a taste for self-pity, which turned into a self-built prison of pure resentment and hell.
I can tell you from experience, it is important you let her know how you feel. It doesn't mean she will change, but she needs to know if her behavior is affecting your friendship.
Then, basically, it is up to you whether you both remain friends. My own sister just quit calling me, for months at a time. I just wished she had been honest and upfront with me. And that is why I am telling you to be honest with her. You may accept her just exactly the way she is, but let her know you are there, if she needs help. And that you will help her find help, if she agrees she has a problem. You may accept her condition, and go on ignoring her erratic behavior, but with time, her condition will only become worse. I only pray by then, that if you two haven't talked about it... that you don't part as enemies.
May the Lord God bless you BOTH!!!!!!
check out online:
FOR HER:
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
FOR YOU:
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

What does a substance abuse evaluation consist of for marijuana?

I live in the state of Massachusetts and I am court ordered to take a substance abuse evaluation for marijuana. What does this process consist of?

you will be asked the reason for the evaluation, as well as:
age you first used
length of time you used
amount typically used
how often you use each month / week / day:
alcohol, marijuana, other illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and OTC medications.
as well as any arrests or substance abuse treatment.
it takes about an hour and it is very detailed. based on your history they will make a recommendation to the court as to the level of monitoring / treatment they feel you need:
random urine screens
D & A counseling
rehab
and remember: they are making their recommendations based on WHAT YOU TELL THEM.

How long does it take to become a substance abuse nurse?

I was wondering how long it takes to be a substance abuse nurse. Or if you can tell me the requirements a substance abuse nurse needs.
Just to clarify I want to become a nurse not a counselor.
Thank you for your help.

You would need to get your BSN in nursing which would take four years and then perhaps some extra certification after that. usually an employer will specify what else is needed.

Will substance abuse throughout someone's lifetime effect the health of their children?

I was wondering If a mothers and/or father's abuse of drugs and/or alcohol throughout their lifetimes can effect the health of their children? (Keeping in mind that the mother would not smoke, drink, or use drugs throughout the actual pregnancy)
Will the parent's substance abuse induce psychology and emotional problems such as ADHD, depression, Bipolar disorder ect in their children. Will substance abuse effect the quality of the genetic makeup carried in the sperm and eggs somehow?
Advice as well as links and statistics would be useful. Thanks.

If the mother does not use during her pregnancy then the child should be fine physically. Bipolar disorder is genetic so the use of drugs by the parents will have no effect negative or positive on the development of Bipolar.
However...... parents who abuse drugs and alcohol do not make very good parents (parents who PREVIOUSLY used drugs and alcohol are a bit better). Children are neglected and often emotionally or physically abused... this can lead to the development of all sorts of disorders from personality disorders to anxiety disorders...... Bipolar and Schizophrenia are genetic so they will develop independent of home life. Any other mental health issue can be caused by environment.
Addiction is also an inherited trait...... parents can pass a tendancy to be an addict to their children. Doesn't mean that the children will automatically be addicts but it means that they will be more likely to be addicts than the standard population.

How does the enabling of substance abuse addiction work?

I have heard that sometimes, families can even sort of encourage the individual to continue on with his substance abuse addiction. How so? What are they doing that actually acts to the detriment of the individual?

Enabling substance abuse addiction simply means that the person tolerates the addiction of the individual. They make it easy for the patient to continue on indulging in the substance. Enabling substance abuse addiction can be manifested in a variety of ways, some of which are as follows:
* making excuses for the person's behavior
* doing something for the person instead of letting him do it himself
* not recognizing the problem or denying its existence, therefore allowing the behavior to go on.
* helping the individual fuel his substance abuse addiction by giving him money, finishing his work for him, or just plain ignoring his behavior and shortcomings.
If you happen to know someone who is a substance abuse addict, then you should take care not to do the things listed above.

How can I become a substance abuse counselor?

In order to become a substance abuse counselor, do i need a degree in anything or just certification? If I do need a degree, what should I get a psychology or sociology degree, or possibly something else?

It wouldn't be for the faint of heart. You'd have to talk to drug addicts and persuade them to stop using.
Many counselors are former addicts, so again, i ask WHY?